Pipe vise



W. C. KRESS Jan 6, 1931.

PIPE VISE Filed July 24, 1925 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLARD C. KRESS, OI BUFFALO, NEW YORK ASSIGNOR T 31TH. WILLIAMS (70. 01

- BUFFALO,NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PIPE VISE Application filed July 24,

This invention relates to improvements in Vises of the character commonly known as plpe Vises, and more partlcularly to a vise 111 which the chain or other flexible'j aw is opa vise of the above des'cribed'character having a reversible work-holding member provided With an intermediate support so dis posed as to be clear of the surface of pipes or other work-pieces of relatively large diameter when clamped in the visebut having work-engaging elements conforming with those of the crotched portions of the rigid jaws so as to form a rigid prop for pipes or work-pieces of relatively small diameter in direct opposition to the flexible jaw. The intermediate support cooperates with the crotched portions of the fixed jaws in such manner as to provide a substantially continuous rigid support for pipes of small diam eter which may be firmly clamped in the vise without being distorted.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention,-

Figure 1 is an end view of a vise embody- I ing the invention and having a pipe of relatively large diameter clamped therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vise the flexible j aw thereof being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the vise along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the vise being indicated as having a pipe of relatively small diameter clamped therein;

Fig. lis a perspective view of the rigid jaws and intermediate support of thevise illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a vise comprising fixed V-shaped jaws 20, and a flexible jaw in the form of a chain 21 mounted in a base 22 provided with openings 23 for bolts or other fastening devices whereby the vise may be secured to a bench or other support.

The jaws 20 are of the reversible type having work-engaging teeth 24 in their lower as well as in their upper surfaces whereby when i925. Serial no 45,768.

one set of teeth is dulled the jaws may be reversed in position so as to render a new set of teetheifective. Each pair of jaws comprises two serrated surfaces 20', 20 inclining or flaring upwardly and outwardly from a crotched portion 20 in the form of a relatively wide spread V..

V The jaws are provided with plane surfaces25 adapted to rest upon bosses 26 extending above the surface of the base 22, and the jaws may be held in proper alignment by upwardly-extending lugs 27 of suitable form to enter and fillthe space between the innermost pair of teeth on the under sideof each jaw. a m

j The base 22 is provided with a slot 28 in one of its margins toreceive one end of the chain 21, and the chain is provided with outwardly-extending pintles 29 which may be brought into engagement with stepped recesses 30, 31 in the under side of the base and extending in opposite directions from the margins of the notch 28.

The oppositeend of the chain may be provided, with any appropriate means whereby it maybe firmly clamped about a pipe or similar work-piece placed upon the jaws 20, herein disclosed as a relatively large pipe 32. A satisfactory form of clamping means, herein disclosed for purposes of illustration,

comprises a screw 33 secured to the end of the chain and having itsthreaded portion passed through an opening 3 1 in the base andengaged by a nut 35 having a drop handle 36, pivoted thereto at 37, by which the [nut may be rotated. The upper end of the nut may be provided with a spherical surface 38 which may be held in close contact with a like spherical surface 39 in the under side-of the base. Proper relation between "the nut and the base maybe presevred by a pair of lugs-4:0 at opposite sides of the nut,

said lugs having fingers 41 extending inf'wardly into engaging relation with a retain- ,ing bead4=2- on the nut.- Relative angular movement between thenut and the base is :provided for by'making the opening 3 1 elliptical and by placing the centers of the fingers .41 in the center of a ure-9f the sphe i l Surface '39, l

providing stepped recesses 30, 31 and making the proper election of said recesses -when securing the front end of the chain,

the clamping of the workpiece in the vise may be effected by a relatively slight rotation of the nut.

.Vises of the character thus far described, except. as to the novel manner in which the jaws are mounted and held in proper alignment with respect to thebase, are well known in the art. When used in connection with work to be performed on pipe of large diameter, they are highly satisfactory in that the pair of spaced jaws affords a wide and firm support for the pipe and the placing of the flexible jaw midway between the spaced jaws maintains the pipe rigidly in its intended'position and avoids any tendency to tilt. With pipes of relatively small diameter a vise of the above described character is not altogether satisfactory since, if undue strain is applied thereto when clamping'the pipein the vise, the forceexerted by'the flexible aw at a point, midway between the opposed spaced rigid jaws is likely to-bend the pipe; One of the important features of the invention, whichwill now be described, is to provide means whereby small pipes may he worked upon with the same facility as'large pipes without danger of bending.

Inthe form of the invention'hereinillustra'ted it comprises an intermediate support 43 rigidly connecting the jaws 20, thecornbined structure being reversibly mounted in the base. This intermediate support 43 is provided with clamping teeth or other appropriate workeen'gaging portions adapted tomake contact with thesurface of workpieces of relatively small diameter which would normally contact with'the teeth within the. crotched portions of the jaws 20, as indicated in Fig. 3. This has been .eifected'in the present instance by providing. the intermediate support 43 with a single pair of teeth 44 in alignment with the middle pair of teeth onthe jaws 20. The surfaces 45 of the intermediate support maybe curved downwardly from the teeth 44 so as to fall belowthe plane of the next pair of teeth of the jaws 20,'whereby work-pieces of large diameter which engage teeth 24 ofthe jaws 20 other than the innermost pair will'he free from contact with the surface of the inter- .mediate'support, as indicated in Fig. 1. As

a result of this arrangement the clamping effect of the vise when working on pipe of large diameter is exactly the same as that of the Vises of the prior art. When working on pipe of small diameter the intermediate support cooperates with the crotched por tions of the jaws 20 to provide a substantially continuous rest for the pipe including a prop which is directlyiopposed to the chain, thereby avoiding any tendency to bend the pipe when the clamping stress is applied.

Aselearly illustrated in Figsxl, 3 and 4,

the jaws 20 andintermediate support 43 thejaws maybe made reversible. Y

The invention is; not intended to be specifically limited to the form herein selected for purposes of illustration but should be regarded as including modifications V and variations thereof within the'scope of the appended claim. What'I claim is i A pipe vise comprising a base, a pair of rigid jaw-bearing elements spaced in side by side relation, symmetrically disposed pairs of V-shaped jaw's'in opposite working faces of said jaw-bearing elements, an intermediate support extendin from one of said jaw-bearing e-lements'to the other and forming a rigid connection therebetween, said jaw-bearing elements and their connecting supports being capable of' being mounted on. saidv base with either pair of correspondingly positioned jaws in work-receiving position, lugs on said base to engage elements ofthe oppositely positioned pair'of jaws and holdsaid parts in alignment, and fastening means to secure said parts in assembled relation, said support having symmetrically disposed work-engaging elei'nents in conformity .with those of the crotched portions of each pair of correspondingly positioned jaws, so a as to cooperate therewith to form a substantially continuous restfo'r work'of relatively small diameter.

*In witness whereof, Ihave hereunto signed my name. I

WlLLARD c. KRESS. 

